NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN FULL-TERM OR NEAR-TERM INFANTS - RISK-FACTORS

A retrospective case-control study of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) affecting infants weighing >2,000 g at birth was performed to determin e those factors which could contribute to the development of NEC. Twen ty-four infants met the criteria of definite NEC. For each case the ne xt 2 healthy newborns were matched as controls. When compared with the control group, NEC infants had a significantly higher frequency of pr olonged rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, Apgar score < 7 at 1 a nd 5 min, respiratory problems, congenital heart disease, hypoglycemia , and exchange transfusions. Only 3 infants with NEC were healthy newb orns with an unremarkable perinatal course before NEC. There were no d ifferences in the frequency of preeclampsia, maternal diabetes, matern al drug abuse, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and polycythemia. These results indicate that most of these more mature infants have a predis posing factor before developing NEC.